Unemployment Claims

[hamsamich]

Dose this letter happen to specify a minimum the in-state wages have to be and a minimum work time to be eligible to file?

[roadhp]

No, just that "the claimant has wages and employment in that State's base period(s) and the claimant qualifies for unemployment benefits under the unemployment compensation law of that State using combined wages and employment."  The other bummer is when switching from MA to PA, you lose a quarter's worth of employment the first time.  MA includes the last full quarter completed, first four out of the last five, while PA skips a quarter before it starts its base period.

[vikingfan]

is the change a federal change or just a change in MA state guidelines for unemployment insurance ?

[roadhp]

Unfortunately, it is Federal.  It says that,"since this is a U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration ruling, all States must follow this amendment.

[wlrun3]

   ..."Dear Combined Wage Claimant:

         The US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration amended the regulations governing combined wage claims filed under the Federal-State Unemployment Compensation Program.
         Beginning January 6, 2009, the definition of "Paying State", when filing a Combined Wage Claim, has been changed...
      ...this means, effective January 6, 2009 onward, that in order to file a Combined Wage Claim, you must have had employment and earned wages in the paying state's base period.
         This notice is to inform you that for new claims effective January 11, 2009 and after, you cannot file a Combined Wage Claim with Massachusetts as the "Paying State" unless you had employment and earned wages in Massachusetts during the base period (the four completed calender quarters prior to filing), regardless of whether you traveled to be physically present here.
         Since this is a US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration ruling, all States must follow this amendment."

      ...received by paper mail...
        ...Mon, Nov 25, 08...

[RAD-GHOST]

Looks like Pilgrim will be a high demand assignment!

There are several other states that pay in the low to mid $500.00 per week.

Some of them have had this rule in place for well over a year.

Happy Hunting..............RG!

[hrdwrkndg]

What if you live in Ma. but still don't work in the state??

[wlrun3]

What if you live in Ma. but still don't work in the state??

   ...good question...

   ...concerning combined wage claims (more than just one state claimed) i think this excert from the previously posted letter i received answers it...

   ..."this means, effective January 6, 2009 onward, that in order to file a Combined Wage Claim, you must have had employment and earned wages in the paying state's base period."

   ...correct me if i'm wrong, but i think this means that we have to file in a state we worked in...

   ...the obvious question is, will we still have to physically be there when we initially file...

   ...the difference may matter when choosing which state we choose as the paying state...

   ...typical example would be connecticut, new york, texas, arkansas...

[roadhp]

Quote from DETMA.com, "Please be aware of this amended regulation and plan accordingly if you need to file a Combined-Wage Claim in the future.  Before making plans to travel to Massachusetts to file a Combined-Wage Claim, please call our TeleClaim Center at 617-626-6800 if you have any questions. "

[BigMo]

   Well that just about sucks, so now we cant get anything from Pa. or Ma. or anywhere that pays decent unless we worked in that state?? Boy, screwed now, that makes working on the road look a lot different when you are getting unemployment of $270 or something versus $575 or so. What the hell we gonna do now? Being paid out of Ma. doesnt count I suppose?? Can we get Bartlett to say we were employed by them based out of Ma. but working on contract elsewhere. Damn, this sucks.

BigMo

[BeerCourt]

What if you live in Ma. but still don't work in the state??

Then, you would file a normal unemployment claim in MA.  You won't be affected.

[BeerCourt]

Dose this letter happen to specify a minimum the in-state wages have to be and a minimum work time to be eligible to file?

According to the new Federal rule, a claimant must qualify for unemployment compensation in the paying state.  Each state has different levels of income in your base period to qualify.

Caution:  your base period never includes the current quarter in any state unless you use an alternate base period.  This "uses up" that quarter so it can't be used again.  So, going to MA and working there, might mean that you have to wait for up to three months to file there.

The most important thing that we can all take from this discussion is that this discussion is only that.  The best place to find out about a State's rules is to ask the state.

So, I'm going to post this link one more time for MA:  http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=elwdhomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Elwd

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

[wlrun3]

From Mass web site...

   Calculating your Benefit Rate:

Step 1: List your wages in the last 4 quarters.   Add your wages in the two quarters you were paid the highest, then divide by 26 (the number of weeks in two quarters) to determine your average weekly wage.  If you have earnings in one or two quarters only, the highest quarterly earnings are divided by 13 weeks to determine your average weekly wage.

Step 2 : Your average weekly wage is divided in half.  This is your “Benefit Rate”.
 Example:

Q1: $7,800

Q2: $7,800

Q3: $8,840  } 2 highest quarters

Q4: $10,000

Average weekly rate= ($8,840+$10,000)/26= $724.61

Benefit Rate = $724.61/2=$362.30

Rounded down to $362.00

 
Calculating your Benefit Credit:

Step 3:    The total amount of benefits you can receive in your benefit year is your “Benefit Credit” and is the lesser of two amounts:

- either 30 times your weekly benefit rate
30 times weekly rate = $362.30 x 30 = $10,860

or

- 36% of the total earnings in your base period
36% of total earnings calc: ($7,800+$7,800+$8,840+10,000) = =($34,440) x 0.36=$12,398

Benefit Credit = lesser amount of $10,860 

 
 
Calculating your Duration of Benefits:

Step 4: The duration of benefits is calculated by dividing your benefit rate into the total amount of benefits. 

Duration of Benefits = $10,860/$362.00 = 30 weeks


   ...all state websites give this type of information...




 

[HouseDad]

Then, you would file a normal unemployment claim in MA.  You won't be affected.

You pretty much have to have wages in the state if it's a normal job (house tech).

However, the below link adds some interesting definitions for Bartlett employees - notice definition b:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/151a-3.htm

[BeerCourt]

You pretty much have to have wages in the state if it's a normal job (house tech).

However, the below link adds some interesting definitions for Bartlett employees - notice definition b:
http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/151a-3.htm

According to definition b, if you live in MA, you can file in MA.

[RadBastard]

I guess PA has started to screw people early on not letting them file now.They didn't wait to the new year.
I had a tech friend try to file today and the told him no way,so he is going to mass.

[hrdwrkndg]

How can they do that?  The change doesn't take effect until after Jan. 6, 2009

[Rob143]

Being paid out of Ma. doesnt count I suppose??

No.

Can we get Bartlett to say we were employed by them based out of Ma. but working on contract elsewhere. Damn, this sucks.

No, because as referenced several times above "you must have had employment AND earned wages in the paying state's base period".  I don't like it either but it means you PHYSICALLY WORK within the state or you don't file there.

..."this means, effective January 6, 2009 onward, that in order to file a Combined Wage Claim, you must have had employment and earned wages in the paying state's base period."

[SloGlo]

knot dat eye care, butt...............

PART I.
TITLE XXI.
Chapter 151A: Section 3.
(b)
(1) the individual’s base of operations is in the commonwealth or, if there is no base of operations, then the place from which such service is directed or controlled, is within the commonwealth

wood indicate dat bartlett's teks kin use mass.

[thenukeman]

I wrote a letter to Mass last time I had Questions concerning unemployment with them.  Maybe someone can write them  a email and get a answer if it pertains to them after january 9,   If they Get a positive reply then they go and see if it worked, Then we will know for sure!!!  I got a semi permanent job and it does not pertain to me or I would write them.

It would seem that SloGlo is right if we can show we work diffrent power plants in diffrent states on outages but get paid from Mass with our pay stubs!!!

[owsi84621]

Well it looks like living in the South were the cost of living is cheaper and drawing off of the northern states doesn't pay any more.

[steelman0211]

I was wondering how long you had to work in a 2nd state before you can file a combined wage claim? does it have to be a week or more or will 1 or 2 days count?

[BeerCourt]

You have to have wages in that state.  What you make in one or two days could be a whole week to someone else.  They don't report hours or days worked, just weeks and wages.

[jordanstds]

yes you can. I signed up in plymouth

[tone2607]

hi
iam just wondering does anyone know the website to reopen your claim in rhode island
it is alot easier i have heard but dont know thesite

[Lorrie Henson]

This is Rhode Island's unemployment home page.

http://www.dlt.state.ri.us/ui/

[tone2607]

i can seem find it there

i need to reopen my existing claim not file a new one

[hrdwrkndg]

Has anyone opened a new claim in Ma. since they sent out the official letter stating the new policy beginning in Jan.??  Any problems?

[grasshopper]

I am headed to Ma on Wednesday...  I will let all know if I find out anything new.  I am also curious as to whether you can reopen your claim during your benefit year once filed and accepted?  Are you then forced to go with the new law or are they going to honor your original claim year?  Life is going to start getting real tough people... start preparing now... 
hang on for the next four year ride! 

You know some people think it is wrong to claim multi state  benefits even though you are completely entitled.  Somehow they feel your breaking the law.  It is insurance not welfare.  Those people need to "not claim an accident"  and pay for it out of their own pocket, on their auto's if they wreck them cause that just causes rates to go up for those who don't get in wrecks....   DUH !!!

[shehane]

The way I read the change in CFR Citation: 20 CFR Part 616 any existing claims will be honored but after Jan 11th no one can open a new claim in any state if they haven't worked there.  Until Jan 6th the law stays as it read now.